New mexico

It's all about water in the spring during horn growth. My hunting partner and I hunted 16E (Datil) with Van Hale Outfitters last year. We were told it was the worst year for horn growth in 20 years due to lack of rain in the spring. We saw over 50 bulls, none over 300- 310. We took one bull right at 300. We are headed back to hunt with Van and his guys again this year....hoping for better weather early. They are a great outfit....have also met the BMO guys....Tom and his crew are great guys as well. I'm sure we will hunt with them in the future as well. Best of luck ...

Results are out. Came out the 23rd like they said. Happy but disappointed at the same time. Happy I get to bow hunt elk this year. Disappointed it is not either of my first two choices, the unit I have hunted the past several years with my ML, but a different unit. So now that I have spent several years learning the land, elk habits and building my maps I get to start over with a different unit. Could be worse could not get drawn at all.

I got unit 23. Need to go scout it as I had my hunt all planned out and then got thrown a curve ball. But at least I got on base. Getting the Hoyt dialed in so time to move to further distances. Here is what I did at the range today.